When the fabulous guys at PetSafe offered us the chance to review one of it‘s Extreme weather Aluminium Pet Doors we decided to do something a little different. We asked our followers to simply state why they needed this Pet Door in their life.

We got some wonderful responses and after a week we asked Monty to pick one at random. The ‘winner’ was Val Jones who said ‘I need this, our back door sticks in winter and wet weather and it’s very difficult to open as we both have health problems.’

Val and her partner Adrian share their home with Lizzie a Newfoundland and so sensibly went for the extra large size and the door was delivered.

I have been chatting to Val since the door arrived and have put together her story which is really sweet and one of the nicest reviews we’ve ever done. The first message I got from Val was that Lizzie was happily going out through the door though Val was at this point holding it open for her because, as Val said ‘She hasn’t worked out she can do it herself yet'.’

The next stage was classic Newfie owner (all crazy right?) as Val decided the best way to help Lizzie was to go through the door herself. I apologise at this point as we have no photo’s but I’m sure you can picture the scene. I’m sure Val won’t mind me saying that she a lady a little older than 21 and in her own words she said ‘Never in my life did I imagine I’d be doing this (at my age)’.

In the same message she did say that the house was much warmer already. Now at this point it’s worth pointing out that Newfies are a breed of dog that can be laying in front of a roaring fire one minute and sleeping in the snow or torrential downpour the next. Most Newfie pawrents just see themselves as door staff, especially in winter when the hooman household generally want the door closed.

So a warmer house was a very positive early result and now it was just getting Lizzie to use the door herself. Fast forward a couple of weeks as I left Val and Lizzie to get used to the new access point and I caught up with Val again.

Firstly she said that never in her wildest dreams did she think she’d win a pet door for Lizzie and this was something on her wish list. Previously the door was open from first light to the last speck of daylight and in the summer they were inundated with flies and in the winter they sat and froze. After dark they still had to play the in out game and with Val and Adrian both having health issues this was not only inconvenient but painful.

Now though there is a different story. Lizzie still barks for permission to go out, but now Val uses the command and she just runs through it. It didn’t just happen though and Val put a lot of work in including climbing though it 20 times with Lizzie. The training was all worth it though because in the end she just did it and was rewarded with a big treat.

Val goes on to say ‘Now when she wakes me up at 5am with one bark I give the command and she goes….and I go back to sleep. I just love this story of how something like this has totally transformed Val and Lizzie’s life and just made everything easier and more comfortable for everyone.

I asked about the construction and fitting of the door and Val said it took about an hour and the lovely thing is that it doesn’t bang every time Lizzie comes through which is great for Lizzie and of the course her hoomans. The door actually has layers which include a solid section that can be fitted for security.

My huge thanks to Val for letting me share her story and of course our star the wonderful Lizzie. A massive thanks also to PetSafe for their generosity and to Nicola from Toast PR for her wonderful support.

As somebody who seems to spend half my life opening and closing doors I think the PetSafe door is a wonderful product and you can see for yourself the effect and benefits it brings.

PetSafe Pet door a real game changer for Newfoundland Lizzie